Land Use change

Facts

Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural habitats such as arable fields, pastures, and managed woods. 

  • Total world land area suitable for cropping: 4.4 billion hectares

  • Percent of the total world cultivated area that is rainfed: 80% (1.2 billion ha)

  • Total land area currently being cultivated: 1.6 billion hectares of which 20% (0.3 billion ha) is on marginally suitable lands

  • Share of world land sources that are degraded: 25%

  • Share that are moderately degraded: 8%

  • Share that are improving: 10%

  • In several regions, soil quality constraints affect more than half the cultivated land base, notably in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern America, Southeast Asia and Northern Europe.